OXFORD – Saturday at 7:30 p.m, the cool sounds of classical jazz will heat up 6 On The Square (6OTS) with The Molly MacMillan Jazz Trio! Ithaca-based musicians, Molly MacMillan, Doug Robinson and Mike Wellen together are the ‘Trio’. They are well-known in the Central New York music scene for their sassy jazz style. They also have a long history of dedication to “challenging” music, but when they play it… it’s as smooth as silk!
Superb jazz pianist, vocalist and composer, Molly MacMillan, has been a featured pianist at the Sacramento Jubilee Traditional Jazz Festival, also performing there with Peggy Haine’s legendary group, the “Lowdown Alligator Jazz Band”. In addition to being an active music teacher Molly has performed with countless ensembles and performed at numerous festivals since the 1980s. She has worked with her Jazz Trio since the late 1990’s. Aside from being a beautiful pianist, Molly is also a vocalist of uncanny agility with a light, mellow sound. She has recorded CDs with various artists including the Trio and the Hot Foot Club, and has also produced several CDs.
Contrabassist, Doug Robinson, a gifted musician, has had a diverse career of touring and session work. For 30 years he has been a vocalist, bassist and guitarist with many jazz, blues, world music, country, pop and folk artists, such as the Burns Sisters. You may have seen Doug at 6OTS before. He played gypsy jazz with Djug Django on guitar last year, and he also performed on upright bass with Molly this summer when they accompanied Joe Crookston during the Oxford Village Bicentennial. In the Trio, he will be “slapping” his bass, but he also can sing. (He may be convinced to sing the jazzy Brazilian bossa nova, “A Felicidade,” by A.C. “Tom” Jobim.)
Drummer, Michael Wellen, an excellent percussionist, studied at the University of Buffalo where he performed with the University's percussion ensemble under the direction of Jan Williams. He was a founding member of the infamous Zobo Funn Band and has more than 30 years of professional performing experience playing jazz, rock, Latin, blues and other styles. Michael has taught drums and percussion for more than 20 years. He was co-owner and audio engineer for Hillcrest Productions, a small recording studio.